Dear Senator Murray and Congressman Ryan,
I am writing on behalf of the five million federal employees and annuitants represented by the National Active and Retired Federal Employees Association (NARFE) who are dismayed at reports that an increase in federal retirement contributions is part of the budget package your conference committee is considering. The increase in retirement contributions is being referred to as a “fee.” This is not a fee; it is a tax increase on federal workers – the only group of Americans on which an income tax increase would be imposed.
I urge you to keep in mind that federal employees already have contributed more than $113 billion towards deficit reduction from the three-year pay freeze and an increase in retirement contributions for new hires beginning in 2013. No other group of American workers has been asked to give financially to their country the way federal employees have. This doesn’t include the loss in pay for up to 10 days as a result of sequestration-related furloughs in 2013.
The savings from raising retirement contributions would be used to defer scheduled sequestration cuts for FY14. However, the alternative – sequestration in FY14 – will result in furloughs and layoffs for federal employees. Either plan results in a reduction of take-home pay for individuals who go to work every day in service to their country.
Enough is enough! I urge you to reject proposals that would increase retirement contributions for current employees and approve a budget that would allow the government to operate without forced furloughs and without reducing the pay and earned benefits of federal employees and retirees.
The actual letter can be read here.
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